The Philosophy Department at Boston University is committed to creating a welcoming, diverse, and supportive environment for all members of our community — including students, faculty, staff, and affiliates. We recognize the urgency of addressing the structural injustices associated with racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, classism, ableism, and sexual harassment within our discipline. Our department has absolutely zero tolerance for any of these forms of discrimination, and we take the mental wellbeing and physical safety of everyone in the BU philosophy community to be essential priorities.
Empirical data has shown that individuals with diverse identities have been systematically excluded from academic programs and that their perspectives are often discounted in the classroom. It is crucial that philosophy as a discipline demonstrates its moral commitment to inclusive values and that philosophy departments develop and implement inclusivist policies. This includes finding ways to address the threat of implicit biases, microaggressions, stereotype threat, and other subtle and overt forms of discrimination. To that end, we have established The Committee for Climate & Diversity. The Committee organizes the Annual Climate in Philosophy Lecture Series, which invites leading academic climate scholars to campus to present cutting-edge research on how to promote diversity and inclusivity in our field. It also organizes talks in coordination with Minorities and Philosophy, and it provides a growing list of professional resources to help our diverse students, faculty, and staff navigate and flourish within the university environment.
Resources:
https://www.bu.edu/thurman/resources-lgbtqia-community/
(Equal opportunities office) Statement of Values
Boston University is committed to fostering an environment that is free from all forms of sexual misconduct, including sexual assault and sexual harassment. In support of that commitment, BU takes steps to increase awareness of such misconduct, eliminate its occurrence on campus, provide support for survivors, diligently investigate all reports of sexual misconduct, and deal fairly and firmly with offenders. Creating a safe campus environment and a culture of respect is the shared responsibility of all members of the BU community, individually and collectively.
Notice of Non-Discrimination
Boston University is committed to establishing and maintaining an environment free of all forms of discrimination and harassment for all members of the University community. The University prohibits discrimination against any person on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, military service, or because of marital, parental, veteran status, or any other protected class.
The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its educational, extracurricular, athletic, or other programs, or in the context of employment. Sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment as defined in this Policy, is a form of sex discrimination prohibited by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, a federal law that provides:
No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.